Machine for opening envelops.



I. MICHEL.

MACHINE FOB OPENING ENVELOPE.

APPLICATION FILED MALE, 1911.

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I. MICHEL.

MACHINE FOB. OPENING ENVELOPS.

APPLICATION nun MAR; 17, 1911.

1,01 3,201, Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

97(- Z506 flit/765 COLUMBIA PLANoonAPH c0., WAsmNuTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE:

ISAC MICHEL, OF FRANKFORT-ON-TI-IE-MAIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO MICHELIUSG. M. B. 131., OF FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN,.GERMANY.

MACHINE FOR OPENING ENVELOPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 17, 1911.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912. Serial No. 615,043;

To all whom it may'concern:

Be it known that I, IsAo MICHEL, a sub ject of the German Emperor,residing at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in and Relating to Machines for Opening En velops;and I do hereby declare the follow-.

ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeanduse the same.

The invention relates to a machine for opening envelops or the like bysevering a small strip from one edge of the same; to this end theinvention consists in a machine provided with a movable letter table, ahinged knife plate abutting against the same, and spring pressed membersfor holding the letterin place during the severing period.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention :Figure 1 isa side elevation of the machine, the left side wall being removed. Fig.2 is a rear elevation, and Figs. 3 to 7 show the different positions ofthe letter table, knife plate and pressure device, during the severingof a strip from the letter envelop. 1

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the machine consists of two side walls a anda bottom plate m. In the side walls there is mounted a shaft 6 carryinga crank c, a cam disk cl, and two cams e, the latter being both of thesame shape. The cam disk (Z is engaged by a roller f rotatably mountedin a bracket 9 secured to a table it hinged on a shaft a mounted in theside walls a. A spring 11 attached at one end to a bolt a secured to oneof the side walls, and engaging with its other end in an eye 70 on. thetable it tends to keep the roller f in engagement with the cam disk (Z.As shown in Fig. 1 the parts described are so positioned relative to oneanother that the table it occupies an inclined position.

Against the lower edge of the table it there abuts a plate m secured toa shaft Z mounted in the side walls a. The said shaft carries a leverwhich is engaged by a spring 0, the other end of which is fastened tothe bolt a The spring tends to keep-the plate in contact with the loweradge of the table it in a position at a right angle to the surface ofthe same. The plate n is provided with a flat knife n secured by screwsor the like to the upper surface of the plate m so that it protrudesover the same for a distance equal to the thickness of its blade. Flushwith the blade there is provided a flange at one side of the plate magainst which flange the table abuts, so that a small space is leftbetween the lower edge of the same and the surface of the plate m whichspace corresponds to the breadth of the strip to be severed from theenvelop.

The shaft 2' carries two bell-crank levers 70 one arm of each of whichis provided with a roller 1" each engaging one of the cams e of theshaft Z), while the other arm of each lever is connected with a pressuredevice g. Springs secured on projections of the levers p and to theshaft Z tend to keep the rollers 1" in engagement with the cams e. Thepressure devices (I attached to the curved ends of the long arms of thelevers ,1), being of any known construction are provided with plates gadapted to engage with an envelop laid upon the table it when the leversp are oscillated by the rotation of the crank 0.

A receptacle t is arranged underneath the table and carried by guideflanges u integral with the side .walls a, the receptacle being adaptedto receive the severed strips. The letters to be opened can be put intothe space at the rear end 7) of the machine and left between the Wallsa, the bottom as, and an inclined plate w.

The operation of the machine is as follows: An envelop or the like to beopened is fed by hand or by suitable automatic feed mechanism (notshown) upon the inclined table 72. so that the edge of the envelop to becut away rests against the surface of the plate m. The crank c is thenoperated by the handle thereon and the shaft" Z) is rotated. The camdisk d fixed to said shaft also rotates and lifts the table 72, throughthe intermediary of the roller f, and against the action of. the springk, while at the same time the cams e of the shaft 6 have imparted adownward movement to the pressure devices 9 through the intermediary ofthe bell-crank levers 37, so that the envelop is firmly pressed upon thetable. Now, owing to the shape of the cams e and the cam disk 03, boththe table it and the pressure devices 9 are simultaneously lifted untilthe edge of the envelop strikes the blade of 110 the knife. In furtherlifting the table it a over the same and small strip of the letter issevered corre sponding in its breadth to the thickness of the bladesecured to the plate m. While the severed strip falls over the shaft Zinto the receptacle t the upward movement of the table continues, butthe pressure devices are now lifted more rapidly than the table so thatthey clear the letter which, when reaching the upper edge of the plateam, will slide fall into a basket placed in front of the machine. Infurther operating the handle of the crank c the'movable parts of themachine return to their initial position and the operation describedabove recommences.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for opening envelops, the combination of a supportingtable, a crank shaft, a cam disk mounted on the shaft and adapted toactuate said table, a hinged knife plate, and a spring for pressing saidplate against said table.

2. In a machine for opening envelops, the combination of an envelopsupporting table, a shaft carrying the table pivotally, a knife plate,means for holding the envelop upon said table, and bell-crank leversmounted on said shaft and carrying said holding means.

3. In a machine for opening envelops, the combination of an envelopsupport-ing table,

cutting or opening of the envelop,

a knife plate, a flange on the same, pressing means for holding theenvelop on said table, levers carrying said pressing means, a crankshaft, a cam disk on the same adapted to actuate the supporting plate,and cams on said shaft adapted to actuate said levers.

4c. Inv a machine for opening envelops, the v combination wit-h apivotally'mounted supporting table, a hinged knife plate engaging oneportion of the table, means pressing the envelop against the tableduring the cutting or openingof the envelop, and means causing relativemovement of the table with respect to the knife plate to open and thencause discharge of the opened envelop.

5. Ina machine for opening envelops, the

combination with a downwardly inclined pivotally mounted supportingtable, an upwardly inclined knife plate engaging the lower portion ofsaid table, means for pressing the envelop against the table during theand means for causing relative movement of the table with respect to theknife plate to open and then cause discharge of the envelop.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAC MICHEL. Witnesses:

J EAN GRUND, CARL GRUND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

